Catwalk



Dec. 6, 1955 3. A. MATHEWS CATWALK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6. 1950 sm o A 3. M a I M m A by M 9a a Dec. 6, 1955 e. A. MATHEWS CATWALK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6, 1950 v United States Patent CATWALK George A. Mathews, Little Rock, Ark. Application November 6, 1950, Serial No. 194,218

Claims. (Cl. 304-38) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in catwalk constructions, and more particularly pertains to a constructionv of this type especially suited for use with tank batteries, whereby an operator may climb to the top over a plurality of tanks.

The primary object of this invention is to enable an operator to climb to the top and walk over a plurality of tanks to inspect, maintain and control the use of the same, and to eliminate insofar as possible the likelihood of the operator falling as by losing his footing or the like.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a catwalk that will be disposed above and supported by storage tanks, but which will be adapted to merely rest upon the storage tanks and not need to be fixed to or secured to the tanks as by riveting, welding or the like, so that the catwalks may be eflicaciously installed and removed, and will not require any modification whatever of the tank.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a catwalk of this character, which will be horizontal, and may rest upon the top of a plurality of tanks irrespective of the relative height of the latter.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a catwalk construction of this character which may be formed entirely of standard tubing and structural elements, so as to greatly reduce the cost thereof by not necessitating the use of special fittings or the like.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a construction of this type which may be prefabricated to a very large extent without regard to the particular installation in which the same is to be utilized, so as to further reduce the cost of the finished installation.

Yet another important object of the present invention, closely allied to the immediately preceding object, is to provide prefabricated catwalk construction units that may be assembled and modified to whatever extent necessary at the point of installation to meet the particular job requirements with ease so as to require the minimum skill and labor, and thereby to make the initial cost of the completed installation quite economical.

A meritorious feature of the present invention resides in the construction of the tread elements for both the horizontal sections of a catwalk, and the steps of the ladder, such construction being especially important with regard to the excellent traction afforded by the same and the fact that water or snow will not tend to accumulate on the same during inclement weather.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the arcuate saddles, and the adjustable means by which the saddles are carried by the horizontal catwalk sections, so that the catwalk sections may be supported upon the tops of tanks of different heights, and need not be fixedly secured to the tanks.

Still another important feature of the present invention resides in the manner in which adjacent catwalk sec- Patented Dec. 6, 1955 tions are secured together, and particularly where such juncture occurs above a tank so that the supporting structure including the saddles tends to reinforce the connection.

Still another important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of hand rails for both the ladder and the horizontal catwalk sections, and particularly the manner in which the hand rails for the horizontal catwalk sections are secured thereto.

A final important feature to be specifically enumerated herein, resides in the structure of the present invention being of such a character that the same may be formed entirely of standard tubing and structural members that are available on the open market at low cost, and the further fact that theconstruction of the present invention is such as to readily lend itself to a large degree of prefabrication at a point remote from the point of use.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an installation incorporating the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a broken and exploded perspective view of a portion of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken upon the plane of the section line 33 of Figure 1 upon an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view taken upon the plane of section line 44 of Figure 3; and,

Figure 5 is another detail sectional view, this view being taken upon the plane of the section line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Reference is now made more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and in which the reference numerals 10, 12 and 14 designate horizontally disposed cylindrical tanks that rest upon founda tion cradles 16, 18 and 20 respectively. The tanks 10, 12 and 14 form a tank battery of a type with which the instant invention, designated generally at 22, is particularly adapted for use.

In the form of the invention illustrated, there are provided catwalk sections designated generally at 24 and 26. Each of the catwalk sections 24 and 26 are formed of a pair of elongated tubular side members 28, which are disposed in spaced parallel relation by a plurality of spaced parallel tread elements 30. The tread elements 3i) are V-shaped in cross section, and may be simply formed of short lengths of angle iron. It will be noted that the apices of the tread elements 30 are open at their opposite ends so that any moisture collecting in the same will drain out its ends as will be readily apparent upon inspection of Figures 2 and 4. The tread elements 30 are preferably secured to the side members 28 by welding the top end edges thereof to the side members so that substantially the full length of the tread elements can be utilized in walking thereon, it being noted that the upper edges of the tread elements are disposed below the top of the side members 28 so that the side members 28 will prevent the foot of a person walking there- I members 32 being suitably welded to the side members 28. A pair of arcuate saddles 34 is provided, each of which saddles 34 having fixedly secured thereto upstanding tubular projections 36 which extend up into and are slidably received in the tubular members 32. The pro jections 36 and the tubular members 32 are detachably retained in adjusted extended relation by means of a bolt or pin 38 which extends through aligned apertures in the projections and the tubular members, it being undert d hat a pl li y o aper r ma be rq sis t either orboth the tubular members, and the projections to afford an easy adjustment of the same."As 'clearly shown in Figure l, the arcuate saddle 34 is curved to rest upon the convex top of the tank 14 and to. distribute the weight of the catwalk section 2 6 thereon in a man ner thatdoes not require the saddle to be secured to the tank 14.

The catwalk sections 24 and 26 are secured together by means of coupling rods or members 40 which are received in the adjacent ends of the side members 28. of the sections 24 and 26 and secured thereto by pins or bolts 42 whieh extend through both the side members 28 and the member 48. In the form of the invention shown in Figure l, the catwalk sections 24 and 26 join over the tank 12 and supported thereon by meansof depending tubular members 44 and 46 carried by the adjacent ends of the. side members 28 of the catwalk sections 24 and 26 respectively. An arcuate saddle 48 rests on the top of the tank 12 and like-the saddle 3.4 carries upstanding spaced projections 50 which are slidably received in the lower ends of the members 44 and 46 and adjustably secured thereto, as by pins 52.

The end of the catwalk section 24 remote from the section 26 is supported by means of depending tubular members 50 carried by the side members 28, and the members 50 receive raised projections 52 carried by a saddle 54 that rests upon the tank 10. As will be ap-. preciated, the projections 52 telescope into the tubular members 56 and are adjustably secured thereto. As thus far described, it will be seen that the entire weight of the catwalk sections 24 and 26 rest upon'the tanks 10, 12 and 14, and that the catwalk sections 24 and 26 are disposed horizontally irrespective of the relative heights of the tanks, inasmuch as the saddles may be carried at different distances below the catwalk sections by either making extensible adjustments in the means carrying the saddles or by varying the lengths of the depending tubular members carried by the catwalk sections.

Means is provided to reinforce the span of the catwalk section 24 between the tanks and 12, such means comprising legs 56 carried by the side members 28, the lower ends of which are connected by an angle 58 A pair of elongated straps 66 are secured intermediate their ends by any suitable means to the angle 58 and have their opposite ends secured as by welding or the like to the underside of the side members 28, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4. It will be evident that when a load is placed upon the catwalk section 24 between the tanks 10 and 12, the catwalk section 24 will resist bending by virtue of the tensioning of the straps 60.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, longitudinally spaced upstanding studs 62 are provided along the lengths of the side members 28 forming the catwalk sections 24 and 26, such studs 62 being received in the lower ends of tubular standards 64. The upper ends of the standards 64 have suitably secured thereto short horizontal tubular sections 66 which are arranged in parallel with the side members 28, and tubular bannisters 68 are provided which extend through the tubular sections 66 in parallel relation to the side members 28. The bannisters 68 are removably secured in adjusted position by means of bolts or pins 70 which extend through suitable aligned apertures through the tubular sections 66 and the bannisters 68. as shown in Figure 2.

A ladder construction designated generally at 72 is provided which includes a pair of parallel tubular rails 74, the upper ends of which are detachably secured to the side members 28 of the catwalk section 24 by means of angulated tubular connectors 76 which are received in the upper ends of the rails 74, and the ends of the side 13,. members 28 as clearly suggested in Figure 2. The tubular connectors 76* are detachably secured by means of pins 78 which extend through apertures in the connectors and the rails 74 numbered 80 and 82 respectively.

The lower ends of the rails 74 are supported by a small concrete foundation 84 and are secured thereto by means of opposed pairs of angles 86 fastened to the foundation 84 by bolts 88, with bolts 90 extending through the angles 86 and the lower ends of the rails 74.

Steps are provided for the ladder construction 72 which includes angles 92 secured to the adjacent sides of the rails 74 with tread elements 94 resting upon the angles 92. The tread elements 94 are short pieces of angle iron arranged in parallel relation with their apices directed downwardly and are secured at their apices to the upper edge of the angles 92 by welding or the like as at 96.

The ladder construction 72 is also provided with hand rails 98 that are spaced in parallel relation to the rails 74, the hand rails 98 being secured to the rails 74 by means of short tubular members 100 having their opposite ends welded to the side rails 74 and the hand rails 98 respectively.

As shown in Figure 3, the straps 60 for. bracing the catwalk section 24 may be circular in cross section and secured to the legs 56 and the angle 58 by extending through suitable aligned apertures therethrough.

The construction andthe manner in which the present invention is installed will be readily understood: The ladder construction 72 may be prefabricated entirely before being brought to the place of assembly, and that portion of the catwalk sections 24 and 26 consisting of the side rails. 28, the tread elements 30., the depending tubular members, and the upstanding studs 62 may, also be prefabricated before being brought to. the place of assembly. In assembling the structure, the catwalk sections 24 and 26 are joined by the connectors 40 and the depending tubular members either out to desired lengths or adjusted with respect to the upstanding projections on the saddles 48, and pins or bolts passed' through the upstanding projections and the depending tubular members so the catwalk sections may rest upon the tanks by means of the engagement of the saddles therewith. The standards 64 are then seated upon the studs 62 and the bannisters 68. passed through the tubular sections 66 and secured thereto by means of the pins 70. In the event the distance between points of support for the catwalk sections is quite extended, the reinforcing construction consisting of the legs 56, the angle 58 and the straps 68 may be employed as shown between tanks 10 and 12 in Figure 1. The small foundation 8.4 is then provided and the lower ends of the rails 74 secured thereto, and the upper ends of the ra ils 74. are secured to the side members 26 by means of the coupling elements 76. The installation is then complete with a minimum of material and labor having been utilized. It will be readily appreciated that the structure may be readily disassembled, and with slight modifications and changes in proportions the same may be employed upon other tanks.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood. and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A catwalk section comprising a pair of elongated, parallel side members, and a plurality of spaced parallel tread elements connecting the side members, each of the tread elements being V-shaped in transverse section, said elements being secured solely at upper end edges thereof and above the apex thereof to the side members so that water will not be retained in the trough defined by such element and substantially the full length of the tread elements may be utilized for walking thereon.

2. In a catwalk construction for mounting on tanks having convex tops, a catwalk section comprising a pair of elongated parallel tubular side members, tread means connecting the side members, a pair of depending support legs rigidly carried by each of the side members, an arcuate saddle connecting the lower extremities of the support legs and adapted to rest upon the top of a tank so as to support the catwalk section, each of said support legs including a pair of telescoping members, and fastener means securing the telescoping members in adjusted relation.

3. In a catwalk construction, a pair of aligned catwalk sections, each of which includes spaced parallel side members connected by tread means, a depending support leg carried by each of the side members of both of the sections at positions adjacent the adjacent ends of the sections, means connecting the adjacent ends of aligned side members, and an arcuate saddle connecting the lower ends of said legs carried by aligned side members adapted to rest upon the top of a tank.

4. A prefabricated catwalk construction comprising a pair of elongated tubular side members, a plurality of tread elements connecting the side members, a pair of depending parallel tubular legs carried by each of the side members, an arcuate saddle, and a pair of upstanding parallel tubular legs carried by the arcuate saddle, one of said pair of legs being slidably received in the other pair of legs, whereby the saddle may be secured to the side members in adjusted spaced relation.

5. In a catwalk having spaced tubular side rails and spaced tread means secured between the side rails, a support comprising a pair of spaced apart depending tubular legs rigidly secured on each of said rails, a pair of arcuate saddles, and a pair of upstanding tubular legs rigidly mounted on each of said saddles, said upstanding legs being slidably received in said depending legs, said legs having alignable apertures therein and fastening means extending through aligned apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 175,095 Hoehn Mar. 21, 1876 922,885 Gourlay May 25, 1909 976,074 Hartman Nov. 15, 1910 1,138,583 Tasker May 4, 1915 1,579,574 Taylor Apr. 6, 1926 1,665,846 Denni Apr. 10, 1928 1,723,885 Patterson Aug. 6, 1929 1,823,509 Peters et a1 Sept. 15, 1931 2,090,331 Kutscheid Aug. 17, 1937 2,117,008 Oswalt May 10, 1938 2,347,745 McKinney May 2, 1944 2,361,614 Dugan et al. Oct. 31, 1944 2,394,764 Greulich Feb. 12,1946 2,476,620 Nichols July 19, 1949 2,574,409 North Nov. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 195,003 Great Britain Mar. 22, 1923 598,425 Great Britain Feb. 18, 1948 661,447 France Mar. 5, 1929 780,333 France Jan. 29, 1935 793,017 France Nov. 7, 1935 851,219 France Sept. 25, 1939 

